Senior citizens’ cards valid for just one year – and there’s already a row over the cashback scheme
The budget allocates 1.645 billion for the health card for the elderly, but only for 2027. Those who have reached the age of at least 75 by 31 December this year and receive a pension or allowance not exceeding 28,000 euros for 2025 will be eligible for it.
The card, worth 300 euros, is intended for the purchase of healthcare goods and services – ranging from over-the-counter medicines to dental treatment – which will be specified in a subsequent decree issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Labour, which will also set out the conditions for the accreditation of healthcare practices and facilities where it may be used. Also for the elderly, particularly those who are not self-sufficient, the ISEE threshold for accessing the new care allowance of 850 euros has risen from 6,000 to 12,000.
The budget allocates limited resources to the health service; 2.365 billion for 2027, 2.352 for 2028 and 2.399 billion from 2029 onwards.
One of the key areas is the attempt to curb the burden of payback payments borne by pharmaceutical and medical device companies. From 2028, the ceiling on pharmaceutical expenditure for direct purchases will rise by 0.2 per cent, reaching 9 per cent (including the 0.2 per cent share for medical gases) of the health fund. There will be a payback discount (160 million per year) for pharmaceutical companies that make additional investments in Italia in innovation, research, production and technology. For medical devices, the spending cap rises to 4.7 per cent and a reduction of 1.4 billion is introduced on the 4 billion in outstanding payback for 2019–2023.
However, this measure is not enough for Confindustria Medical Devices, which has announced ‘legal action and protests’ should no corrective measures be taken. “The budget forces us to bear costs that are beyond our control, presenting us with an unsustainable bill caused by the regions’ overspending,” claims President Fabio Faltoni. Meanwhile, Conflavoro Pmi Sanità speaks of “bleeding businesses dry”.
